Is it a fresh expression?

Does it matter ?

A fresh expression is a form of church for our changing cultures established primarily for the benefit of people who are not yet members of any church.

A fresh expression is a church plant or a new congregation. It is not a new way to reach people and add them to an existing congregation. It is not an old outreach with a new name. (rebrand) Nor is it a half way house, which people belong to for a while, on their way into Christian faith, before crossing over to ‘proper church.’ This is proper church.’ Graham Cray. An Introduction to fresh expressions

“church planting is a process by which a seed of the life and message of Jesus, embodied by a community of Christians is immersed for mission reasons in a particular cultural or geographic context. The intended consequence is that it roots there, coming to life as a new indigenous body of Christian disciples well suited to continue in mission.” MSC report

1. A larger city church has started a student congregation. 2.A church in Leicester which has two congregations which meet in the same premises at the same time – one using English, the other using Korean……. 3. A congregation that meets in the school hall at 3.30 pm on Monday afternoons in order to reach parents/carers and their children. 4. People can log onto a cyber-church to receive teaching and pastoral advice, leave prayer requests and share in discussion. 5.An Christian organisation has started a meeting for prostitutes and drug addicts who have been converted through their work. 6.An evangelist is starting a ‘walkers church’ – a monthly hike with Christian meditations en route 7.A gathering in a pub organised by a pioneer after playing football together which includes eating together and prayer 8. A church founded by a Nigerian pastor to reach Nigerians in the City centre

Holy “UP” Apostolic “OUT” Catholic “OF” “IN” One Enduring Marks Four linked Journeys Jesus focus Jesus followers Church is any expression of the life of Jesus in communal form OHCA

“ The foundation of being Christian is being community centred around Jesus. Public worship is the consequence of this reality, not its creator.” George Lings

1.Start at different places 2.The danger of waiting for the perfect church 3.Bigger and broader than we conceive 4.Gathered and dispersed 5.Issues of maturity and sustainability 6.Importance of interdependence

1.Passion focused more than project 2.Network not just neighbourhood 3.Fluid more than fixed 4.Fragile more than finished 5.Lay not just ordained

Questions for discussion?